Recap: NY Mets vs. Florida
Sports Network | September 26, 2008
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The Mets dropped the opener of the final regular-season series in Shea Stadium and fell behind in the National League playoff race, as Marlins rookie Chris Volstad threw six effective innings to lead Florida to a 6-1 victory over New York.
For the second straight year the Mets drew the Marlins with their postseason fate on the line in the final three games of the regular season.
Florida took two of three from New York in 2007 to spoil its division rival's season, and Volstad (6-4), who allowed an unearned run on five hits and three walks, helped resurrect memories of the Mets' epic collapse of a season ago.
After the setback Friday, the Mets sit one game behind the Brewers in the NL wild card race and two games behind the Phillies for the NL East lead. Milwaukee beat Chicago, 5-1, on Friday while Philadelphia topped the Nationals, 8-4, to clinch at least a tie for the NL East title.
Josh Willingham homered and drove in two runs, while Hanley Ramirez was 4- for-5 with three runs scored and two steals for the Marlins, who have won two in a row.
Mike Pelfrey (13-11), winless in his last six outings, allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings for the Mets, who have fallen in five of seven contests. David Wright had two of New York's seven hits, and Brian Schneider accounted for the club's only RBI.
The Marlins jumped on top with two runs in the first. Ramirez singled, stole second and scored on John Baker's single, and Dan Uggla later added an RBI groundout.
New York had plenty of opportunities to get on the board in the first three frames. Ryan Church flied out deep to center to squander a bases-loaded opportunity in the first, and the home team couldn't get a runner across with one out and two men on in both the second and third inning.
Willingham made it 3-0 in the sixth by turning on a Pelfrey fastball and lining his fourth homer in as many games off the left-field foul pole.
The Mets put two runners in scoring position with one away in the bottom half. After Baker dropped Schneider's pop-up behind the plate, the catcher bounced a ball to the left side of second base. Ramirez caught the dribbler and threw the baserunner out at third while Church crossed home for a 3-1 ballgame.
Florida answered by tacking on two in the seventh. Bobby Parnell walked leadoff pinch-hitter Luis Gonzalez, and Brett Carroll, pinch-running for Gonzalez, moved to second on a wild pitch. Carroll scored when Daniel Murphy misplayed Ramirez's single to left.
Pedro Feliciano and Aaron Heilman came in from the bullpen to load the bases, and Willingham worked a walk to force in another run.
Ramirez orchestrated Florida's sixth and final tally in the eighth, singling with two away, stealing second and coming around on Jorge Cantu's base hit up the middle.
Joe Nelson, Arthur Rhodes, Kevin Gregg and Matt Lindstrom combined to throw three innings of scoreless relief for Florida.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel confirmed on Friday he will start Johan Santana (15-7) on three days' rest on Saturday. The Marlins will call on Ricky Nolasco (15-7) to oppose the lefty...New York used seven relievers in the loss...Willingham has 15 homers on the season...Pelfrey fell to 0-4 this season against Florida...New York owns a 9-7 lead in the season series...New York went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine on base. Florida stranded 10, going 3-for-10 with RISP.
